The party will run from 7:30 – 9:30 pm, EST, on facebook. To RSVP and participate, simply click here or on the banner at the top of this blog. That’s all you have to do! I’ll be posting exclusive excerpts from Secrets for Seducing a Royal Bodyguard, talking about my inspiration for the book, and doing giveaways all evening.

It’s only a few weeks till the release of His Mistletoe Bride, and I’ve got some fun stuff going on leading up to the release. Are you on Pinterest? If you are, please check out my board for His Mistletoe Bride. It’s a chapter by chapter breakdown of the book, with quotes and pictures to illustrate the story. I had a great time putting it together and I think you’ll enjoy it. You might also want to check out my Cupcakes and Cakes board and my Regency Era Clothing board. They’ve got some great pictures and the Cupcake board includes links to some wonderful recipes.

Oh, and while you’re on my facebook page, don’t forget to check out my Vanessa’s Vixens page. This is my new street team, a great group of readers who are hanging out with me and helping to spread the word about my books. There will be swag!

Finally, the winner of Elyssa Patrick’s new book is Ann S. Congratulations! Thanks to everyone for stopping by my blog. My guest author tomorrow is historical romance writer Tina Gabrielle. Be sure to drop in to visit!

And in each week in the run up to the grand prize giveaway, we’ll also be giving away a prize packet of five of our books. To get the details and to enter check out my facebook contest page, or the facebook pages of the other authors in the contest.

The winner of Thursday’s guest blog post with Terri Brisbin is Evelyn W. Congratulations! I’ll be in touch.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the blog. My featured guests next week will be paranormal romance author Karen Whiddon and historical romance author Diana Cosby. Be sure to come visit!

Most romance readers are at least vaguely aware of how big the romance publishing industry is, and that romance writers produce an incredibly diverse range of books across the genre. But did you know that romance fiction comprised the largest share of the U.S. consumer market in 2010? And that revenues from romance fiction far surpass other genres, like classic literary fiction and mysteries?

Despite that, it’s pretty much true that romance novels and their readers don’t get a whole lot of respect. Laurie Kahn, a respected documentary filmmaker, wants to help change that. She’s part of the Popular Romance Project, an exciting initiative set up to explore the origins and influence of popular romance. The Project has a number of cool things on the go, but the one I want to tell you about today is a documentary that Laurie is filming.

The documentary is called Love Between the Covers, and it will be a feature-length film intended for international television broadcast, focusing on the global community of romance readers, writers, and publishers. Love Between the Covers will also be used at a symposium at the Library of Congress, in nationwide library programs about popular romance run by the American Library Association, and at a website dedicated to studying popular romance across time and cultures–the prototype of that website is currently at the existing Popular Romance Project website.

I’m thrilled to be part of this project in a small way as a participant in Laurie’s interviews with authors and readers of romance, which include New York Times bestselling writers like Eloisa James, Brenda Jackson and Jayne Ann Krentz. I know that Laurie is looking at our community in a completely respectful and non-condescending way, and I’m happy to support the project. I’m hoping you can support it too.

And if you look real hard, you can see an interview clip with me near the beginning of the film!

Folks, I hope you can take a few minutes to check out the video preview ofLove Between the Covers. As Laurie herself says in the trailer, it’s time to take a good look at the women who read and write these books, and who fuel this powerhouse of culture and commerce. Laurie is doing just that in a respectful and supportive way, and that’s something I think we all can support.

I’m thrilled that my friend and acclaimed historical romance author Miranda Neville is on the blog with us today. Miranda writes sexy and witty romances that are rich in history. Her first book, Never Resist Temptation, was published in 2009 to great reviews, and with each book those fab accolades continue to roll in. Take, for instance, The Wild Marquis, book one in her Burgundy Club Series.

This is the book that New York Times bestselling authorEloisa James called “sizzling, addictive, and deeply romantic…a joy to read.”

“Filled with secrets, mystery, romance, sizzling love scenes, witty, realistic dialogue, an imaginative plot and charismatic characters, this lighthearted story is captivating. A riveting novel, I hated to see it end. Do not miss THE WILD MARQUIS. It is a keeper!” — 5 ribbons, Romance Junkies

As you might guess, it’s already gotten great reviews, including this one from Romance Novel News:

“Fans of historical romance should not miss “Confessions from an Arranged Marriage.” Miranda Neville has crafted a magnificent story with a wonderfully emotional romance and a flawed, yet unforgettable hero. This is a story that will tug on the heartstrings, cause emotional heartbreak, but in the end satisfy on almost every level. “

And here’s the blurb:

They couldn’t be more different, but there’s one thing they agree on.

In London after a two-year exile, Lord Blakeney plans to cut a swathe through the bedchambers of the demimonde. Marriage is not on his agenda, especially to an annoying chit like Minerva Montrose, with her superior attitude and a tendency to get into trouble. And certainly the last man Minerva wants is Blake, a careless wastrel without a thought in his handsome head.

The heat and noise of her debutante ball give Minerva a migraine. Surely a moment’s rest could do no harm … until Blake mistakes her for another lady, leaving Minerva’s guests to catch them in a very compromising position. To her horror, the scandal will force them to do the unthinkable: marry. Their mutual loathing blazes into unexpected passion but Blake remains distant, desperate to hide a shameful secret. Minerva’s never been a woman to take things lying down, and she’ll let nothing stop her from winning his trust … and his heart.

I don’t know about you, but I love the theme of arranged marriages and marriages of convenience, and this one is sure to please. And I love Miranda’s books. If you like intelligent, sexy historical romance, I think you’ll love them too!

For my readers today, Miranda is giving away a copy of Confessions from an Arranged Marriage. Let’s continue talking about this theme. What’s your favorite marriage of convenience story, either historical, contemporary, or paranormal? There are lots of good ones out there, so let’s start listing them! One person who comments will win a copy of Miranda’s book.